Arutmin’s trapped workers believed to have been dead

The rescue operation to search for two miners trapped in PT Arutmin Indonesia’s underground mine in Satui, South Kalimantan, is continuing but the rescuers believe that the two men may have been dead, Banjarmasin Post reported on Tuesday.

With the help of a search and rescue (SAR) team from Australia, the local rescuers continued SAR activities including making a 8-meter hole to get access to the underground mine.

“The rescuers are still unable to find the miners, but the SAR activities would be continued,” said Hersom Bagus Pribadi, the head of the Tanah Bambu police office. Rescuers believed that the two men – Zeulfatah Arif and Lalu Ahmad Yani hired by Arutmin’s contractor – have been dead.

The two miners are trapped in the underground coal mine following an accident which took place in the mine last Wednesday. (*)